As Congress returns from its August recess, there are several key health issues that are set to dominate the floor. Health care has been one of the most active areas in the 118th Congress, presenting a intersection of bipartisan collaboration and partisan developments.
The activity by the health committees involved in both the House and the Senate has been fueled in part by efforts to reauthorize various expiring provisions. Principal among them is the pursuit of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) fix to Medicare’s physician payment system, initially implemented in 2015 under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) and due for its reauthorization.
Alongside these, the expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), extending funding for community health centers, and renewing critical public health programs for diabetes and asthma stand as some of the forecasted points of focus. Other crucial factors influencing the dialogue on health issues include the escalating cost of prescription pharmaceuticals and the ongoing efforts to combat the opioid crisis that continues to plague many American communities.
Further comprehensive details of these crucial health issues are presented in the article “10 Health Issues to Watch as Congress Returns from August Recess,” available at JDSupra.
Considering the current state of health care in the U.S, it is imperative for legal professionals to stay informed about these pivotal issues, lest they fail to effectively advise their clients on swift shifts in legislation.